The Position:

UNFPA Cambodia CO requests the services for a national consultant to undertake an assignment of reviewing the medico-legal framework concerning forensic exam and the involvement of the medical experts in judicial procedure in Cambodia.   This assignment supports the development and finalization of an Operational Guidance note on One Stop Service Units (OSSU) for survivors of gender-based violence in Cambodia.

We seek a national professional with the requisite expertise in health services related to gender based violence (GBV) and medico-legal experience who is able to meet the proposed timeline This assignment will be supporting and working with an international consultant who is working remotely as well as with a national  trainer who will co-design a training package and roll out the training package developed. This consultancy requires coordination with both the international and the national consultants – ensuring that materials are reviewed by the lead consultant.

 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Background and Rationale 

GBV prevalence in Cambodia, as established by the most recent DHS survey (2021) was found to be that one in five women experience physical, sexual or emotional intimate partner violence in their lifetime and 13 percent in the 12 months prior to the survey. However, the number of women and girls accessing services for GBV (“service data”) indicates that in Cambodia, as is seen globally, GBV is under-reported to service providers. This is often due to deeply rooted patriarchal social norms that normalize violence and depress help-seeking, and to structural barriers such as policies that are not aligned with survivor needs. 

GBV in all its forms has tremendous physical, emotional and social consequences on the victims/survivors, who have the right to receive quality, compassionate care. The types of services that victims/survivors need include health services, police and justice services, safe accommodation, as well as other social services such as psychological counselling or support to strengthen economic empowerment.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the National Action Plan To Prevent Violence Against Women 2019-2023, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA), and the Ministry of Health (MoH) agreed on the establishment of one-stop service unit (OSSU) in health settings for survivors of gender-based violence, to complement the existing mechanism of a multi-sectoral GBV response working groups for victims of GBV in some provinces, in order to provide effective and timely services to victims of gender-based violence. 

In December 2024, MoWA and MoH launched the Guidelines on the process of establishing one stop service unit for survivors of gender-based violence in Cambodia, providing a clear explanation of the scope and function of one stop service centers/units (OSSU) and how to set up. To complement and support the operationalisation of these guidelines, MOWA with the technical support of UNFPA developed an Operational Guidance Note to be used as an annex to the existing Guidelines. The current draft has been discussed during a 1-day consultation involving key national and subnational stakeholders and requires final consolidation and translation into actual training for OSSU and GBV staff.

The consultant will undertake a desk review of medico-legal frameworks concerning forensic examinations of GBV in Cambodia. While this consultancy will include desk research, field missions to meet with Provincial Forensic Committees will also be required. This research will also examine the involvement of medical experts in legal procedures and provide input to integrate medico-legal perspectives into a OSSU Guidance Note and its training package, drawing upon regional and international best practices.

Scope of Work 

The Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Review the current draft of the GBV OSSU Operational Guidance note, the inputs and questions collected during the consultation, in close collaboration with UNFPA CO (GBV and SRHR teams), MOWA and MOH specifically focusing on the existing medical processes under existing legal and medical practice frameworks.
2. Provide a review of existing national legal frameworks and relevant guidelines related to forensic examinations and health response to GBV, with a focus on medico-legal procedures vis-a- vis international guidelines. Review how national legal frameworks and guidelines are translated in the draft Operational guidance note. Provide a summary list / table of all related medico-legal guidelines, legislation and processes.
3. Draw a process map of the existing process for GBV forensic examinations. 
4. Through meetings and interviews with provincial forensic committee staff, document any differences in practices between the formal official procedures and actual practices, noting challenges, gaps and support systems.
5. Work with the international consultant to ensure that these existing practices are built into the Operational Guidance Note and its annexes for OSSUs, to be ready for final submission to relevant ministries and national technical GBV working groups.

Methodologies

It is expected the review will use the following methods, among others: 

• Desk-based review of current draft, relevant international and national guidelines and legal frameworks concerning the standards of practices of medical professionals in the legal procedure in cases of GBV. 
• Map good practices and lessons learned from the regional and international standards concerning involvement of medical professionals in the legal procedure in cases of GBV.  
• Engagement with the Ministry of Health, UNFPA Cambodia CO and relevant stakeholders.
• Meet with members of the Forensic Committees at the national and provincial levels to ascertain what are the practices “on paper” and what is actually taking place in practice.

You would be responsible for:

• Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Outputs
• The Consultant will:
• Have an introductory call with the UNFPA CO (GBV and SRHR teams) and international consultant to understand the background of OSSU in Cambodia, related guidance and in particular the Operational Guidance note, annex to the Guidelines, challenges and areas for consolidation. 
• Work with an international consultant to understand the scope of work and what is required in the review of existing national legal framework and relevant guidelines related to health response to GBV, with a focus on medico-legal procedures including forensic examinations and processes.
• Review the current draft of the Operational Guidance Note, the inputs and questions collected during the consultation 
• Undertake desk research to understand the current guidelines and legal processes for the forensic examinations related to GBV in Cambodia – documenting all relevant laws and policies in a table format.
• Undertake interviews with medical practitioners who respond to GBV cases – understanding how the forensic form is used, what are the processes, what are the challenges – any gaps between the policy and practice.  Interviews can be done remotely with 1 mission to 2 provinces for face to face discussions as needed.
• Ensure the medico-legal frameworks and processes are reviewed by the international consultant and incorporated into the Operational Guidance Note and its annexes, to be ready for final submission to relevant ministries and national technical GBV working groups.

Key Outputs:

1. Inception report based on agreed workplan and introductory meetings with UNFPA CO and international consultant with agreed action plan as part of the Inception Report.
2. Development of a report on medico-legal processes applicable to GBV / VAW cases which include: 

• Summary table of key national guidelines and framework on medico-legal processes applicable to GBV/VAW cases based on the desk review.
• Summary narrative of any differences between the international guidance,  formal processes with forensic examinations of GBV in Cambodia and practices on the ground based upon interviews with members of provincial forensic committees.
• Report to include a process mapping of the steps to undertaking a forensic exam under the current laws and policies in Cambodia.

3. Recommendations towards the development of training materials for forensic processes on GBV.

The consultant is expected to commence work in February and to finish at the latest in April 2026. This consultancy is based upon 20 estimated days of work.

Please note that this is a results-based consultancy.  The number of days indicated are an estimate only.  UNFPA provides payment on an output basis only with payment will be made upon adequate completion of tasks to the quality set out by UNFPA.

The assignment is based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We seek a national professional with the requisite expertise in GBV, SRHR health and medico-legal framework.

Working time and hours: Phnom Penh time zone  

The suggested payment schedule is detailed below:

1. The first payment of 30% will be made upon receipt and acceptance of the First Deliverable as per the table of deliverables (attached Annex A). (February 2026)
2. The remaining 70% will be made upon approval by the Representative and acceptance of the 2rd Deliverable as per the table of deliverables (attached Annex A). (April 2026)

The GBV Specialist will supervise this consultancy with technical inputs from UNFPA GBV Specialists in APRO and technical supervision from the international consultant.

The consultant will report to the GBV Program Specialist with some oversight by the Representative of the UNFPA Cambodia CO. The consultant is expected to work under the guidance of the International Consultant - closely with the UNFPA Cambodia CO team, the Asia Pacific Regional Specialists on GBV with regular interaction with the GBV Programme Specialist. 

The supervisor(s) and the GBV programme specialist will have frequent interactions with the consultant at various stages to:

• Brief the consultant and provide clarity on the assignment, the process and deliverables.
• Provide key documents relevant to the deliverables.
• Introduce and facilitate the consultant to work with key stakeholders and counterparts if necessary; and
• Provide feedback and get agreement on the next steps of the assignment.

Upon completion of the assignment, the supervisor(s) will certify relevant documents; evaluate the consultant’s work and process/follow-up on the payments.

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

• At least five years of experience in working with social work, health sector in a related area, gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health programme development.  
• Demonstrated understanding of GBV multi-sectoral response mechanism and health response to GBV including managing GBV cases in the health setting and forensic examinations. 
• Strong knowledge of legal frameworks in Cambodia, especially around GBV. 
• Expert knowledge of national policies and legal frameworks on GBV with a proven understanding of existing national and subnational data on GBV.
• Experience working in or familiarity with the Cambodia context or in South Asia required.
• Excellent oral and written Khmer and English language skills.
  
   

Education:  

• Master’s degree in law, a related medical field or gender, social work or related field. 

Languages: 

• Khmer and English

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.